RHINELANDER - An early winter seems to pose no threat to one of Wisconsin's most prevalent parasites.

That may lead to the spread of tick-borne illnesses if proper precautions aren't taken.

Last year, Wisconsin had over 3100 cases of Lyme disease, according to the state Department of Health Services.

Over the past decade, the number of cases has more than doubled.

The early winter weather does not seem to kill off ticks like it normally would.

Dr. Andreas Kogelnik, a physician at the Howard Young Medical Center says that this is likely due to changing weather patterns.

"We are seeing the season being larger and broader across the country, largely likely due to climate change," said Kogelnik.

An extended tick season is not only in Wisconsin but across the nation.

Researchers do attribute the length of the season mostly to climate change, but Dr. Kogelnik says that it can also depend on many different other types of environmental factors.

"Different insects have different tolerances to cold and will also depend on if they're on a moose deep in the fur they're less likely to be affected by the cold on the deer where the fur might be a little thinner," said Kogelnik.

An extended tick season also overlaps with Flu season. Jenny Miller, a Nurse Practitioner at the Rhinelander Aspirus clinic says that there could be some potential misdiagnosis between the two.

"Lyme disease often mimics flu-like symptoms, with the tired achy joins and the feeling overall poorly and people with influenza often get higher fevers and influenza only typical lasts for 6 to 10 days," said Miller.

It's recommended that you take the same precautions now, that you would in the warmer months.

Miller says that there are several ways to keep yourself protected.

"You should spray down with Deet and you can also treat your clothes with Permethrin which you can get over the counter, but you can also buy clothes are pre-treated with Permethrin," said Miller".

WASHINGTON, D.C. - City workers and local artists painted the words "Black Lives Matter" in enormous bright yellow letters on the street leading to the White House, a highly visible sign of the District of Columbia's embrace of a protest movement that has put it even further adds with President Donald Trump.

MILWAUKEE - For the first time in 53 years, summer in Milwaukee won't have a Summerfest.

The crown jewel for the City of Festivals, and the largest music festival in the United States, was canceled for the first time, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Thursday morning in a unanimous vote by the board of Summerfest's parent company, Milwaukee World Festival Inc.

"Given the information available today, and the uncertainty surrounding very large gatherings, we cannot in good conscience proceed with the festival this year," Don Smiley, Milwaukee World Festival CEO, said in a statement. "The immediate future presents multiple levels of risk for our fans, and we choose the side of safety."

Refunds for Summerfest general-admission tickets are available at summerfest.com through July 17. 2020 general admission tickets and passes will also be honored for Summerfest 2021. Summerfest officials said dates for next year will be announced in the coming weeks.

PHELPS - Today, the Robbins family broke ground on their new home, courtesy of Habitat for Humanity.

"This is really exciting," said Dave Havel of the Northwoods Habitat for Humanity chapter. "With all of the issues we've had as a nation as a community. It's really great that we're moving forward and able to help this local family here in Phelps."

Excavation will start in the next few weeks - the next step in what both Rebecca and Cory call their dream home.

"They'll never know what this means to this family," said Rebecca Robbins. "They'll never know what this means to us. I have shed a few tears already and I'm sure a lot more to come. They'll just never know what this means to our family."

It will mean some freedom for Rebecca's daughter Jade.

"I will finally have my own room, after sharing a room with my older brother, then sharing one with my little brother," said Jade Robbins.

Cory works with Select Builders, the local contractor out of Eagle River hired by Habitat for Humanity.

"I can't believe I can do this," said Cory Robbins. "I mean, I've always dreamed of owning my own home and now I'm actually going to help build it."

This will be the 23rd home that Habitat for Humanity has helped build in the Northwoods, and the first one in Phelps.

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